Management impact and benefit of cover crops on soil quality: a review

Abstract

Cover crop (CC) cultivation can improve crop yield, soil and environmental quality. Cover crops are multifunctional and contribute to soil quality by improving soil physical, chemical and biological properties. The crops also enhance organic matter and increase nutrient release, suppress weeds, and control pests. There is a need to continually explore and appropriately manage CC utilization to obtain their full benefits. This paper reviews literature on the impacts and benefits of CCs on soil quality in different cropping systems in terms of species selection, termination stage and termination methods.